Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube, Zimpapers Sports Hub
IT’S not a welcome gift, more like a baptism of fire.
Try Ncube, the new Highlanders caretaker coach, has been handed one of the toughest jobs in Zimbabwean football: trying to steer a fading giant back to relevance, if not glory. It’s a daunting task for any tactician, let alone one taking over a team mid-season, battered by inconsistency and stung by the recent sacking of Kelvin Kaindu.
The timing of Kaindu’s exit, coming off a draw in the Bulawayo derby and indifferent performances, raised eyebrows. Many are still questioning whether the decision was driven by results or deeper boardroom politics. Either way, Ncube now steps into the hot seat, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
The black-and-white faithful have watched their beloved Bosso wither from championship contenders to mid table passengers. Highlanders haven’t lifted the league title since 2006, a 19-year drought for a club whose fan base remains among the most loyal and vocal in the country.
In fact, the last significant silverware came in 2019, when Prince Dube’s wonder strike helped Bosso edge Ngezi Platinum in the Chibuku Super Cup final, under then coach Pieter de Jongh. Before that, it was Amin Soma-Phiri, a former player, who brought home the 2015 Easycall Cup. Since then, it’s been mediocrity, empty promises and excuses.
Now, Ncube finds himself walking into a dressing room lacking not just in trophies, but also in quality. The squad has been the subject of much debate, some insist the current crop isn’t good enough to wear the Highlanders badge. Critics point to poor recruitment, regional bias in selections, and a worrying trend of picking players discarded by rivals. Instead of plugging key gaps with proven talent, Bosso have leaned heavily on promoting juniors, some of whom, like Talent Dube and Mvelo Khoza, were nowhere near ready when elevated.
And the departures haven’t helped either. Key figures like Peter Muduhwa, Marvelous Chigumira, Godfrey Makaruse and Lynoth Chikuwa have left for Scottland, and there were no worthy replacements. In their place came greenhorns Mafios Chiweta and Tendai Muvuti from Mpopoma, youngsters full of promise, but untested at this level.
So, what does Ncube need to succeed? First, money and lots of it.
The US$1 million promised by businessman Wicknell Chivayo could be a game changer, but only if spent wisely. Highlanders need at least five marquee players to realistically compete with title chasing sides. Some of their recent defeats have come down to glaring disparities in size, strength and fitness. While fitness can be trained, undersized players lacking the slipperiness of a Maradona or Messi are getting muscled off the ball far too easily in 50-50 contests.
The club has gambled with experiments in recent seasons, none of which have borne fruit. With the 2025 campaign already slipping away, Ncube has no margin for error. He will need not just tactical acumen but also shrewd transfer dealings and a dose of luck. His coaching résumé, featuring stints with Vasco da Gama, Sao Paulo, Busy Island, Bulawayo City and Hwange, suggests experience, but this is another level entirely.
A son of Bulawayo, raised in Entumbane, Ncube knows better than most — what Bosso means to its supporters. That familiarity could be his greatest asset, or his downfall, depending on how quickly results come. His first public interview is expected on Thursday, after finalising formalities with the club late Tuesday evening(yesterday), according to acting chief executive, Kindman Ndlovu.
The calendar doesn’t offer any favours either. Ncube’s first test is against league leaders MWOS, a side in rampant form and favourites to heap more misery on Bosso. Another bad result could shake the fragile trust placed in the interim technical team and trigger more panic in the executive suite.
Poor Kaindu might feel justified watching from the side lines. During his tenure, there was barely any money for squad upgrades. Instead, he was handed cast-offs from relegated teams, players low on confidence and high on baggage. Despite that, expectations remained sky high.
What brings fans to Barbourfields is simple: results. And though Bosso have been lucky to retain a devoted following, that patience is being tested. If Chivayo’s money is properly channelled, the club may yet have a lifeline. But it hinges on clean, strategic scouting, devoid of backroom manipulation or regional favouritism.
The transfer window opens on July 1. By then, if sound choices are made and new blood injected, Ncube will get his shot to prove whether he was the right man all along, or just the latest placeholder in Bosso’s long list of false dawns.
